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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016814

The Oil Fuel Fund may end up with 100 billion baht in deficit as it continues subsidising oil and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) amid soaring global oil prices.

“The fund is currently 91.08 billion baht in deficit, with 54.57 billion baht shortfall in the oil account from a 10.34 baht per litre subsidy in diesel and 36.51 billion baht shortage in the LPG account from subsidising gas at 13.86 baht per kilogram,” an Energy Ministry source said on Sunday.

“However, the oil prices continue soaring worldwide, with West Texas crude hitting US$115 per barrel, Brent crude $118 per barrel and benzene and diesel hitting $157 and $172 per barrel, respectively. This will soon push the Oil Fuel Fund’s deficit up to 100 billion baht.”

The Energy Ministry estimates that the fund is spending 5.42 billion baht per week on subsidising up to 75 million litres daily and 600 million baht per week on LPG subsidies.

Sanctions on oil from Russia, OPEC Plus’s inability to boost its production and Libya’s drop in output due to political crises are all contributing to the boost in global oil prices. Analysts believe that if the situation persists, the global demand for oil in the second half of the year will exceed the supply by 1.5 million barrels daily.

An Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) committee meeting last week, chaired by Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow, approved a gradual increase of LPG prices at the refinery level to 19.98 baht per kilogram from July 1 to September 30. This will result in a 0.9346 baht per kilogram increase monthly.

The committee, however, rejected moves to revoke subsidies on LPG to alleviate the burden on the Oil Fuel Fund, as such a move will push the retail price of LPG up by 207.7 baht per 15kg canister, which will affect the public severely.

“There is, however, a possibility that EPPO will agree to increase the price cap on diesel to 38 baht from 35 baht per litre from July onward to help boost the Oil Fuel Fund’s liquidity,” the source added. “The ministry is also planning to negotiate with refineries to reduce their refining fee by 2 baht per litre.”

The source added that such measures are necessary to ensure the fund does not fall too deep in deficit.

“If these measures are not put in place, then when the global prices fall, the price of fuel in Thailand will not drop as we will need to continue contributing to the fund to settle debts,” the source said.

Published : June 20, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016812

Ministry of Public Health reported on Monday (June 20) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 1,784 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, one of whom has arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 18, while 2,166 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 2,277,393.
 

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,500,828 – 4,449,432 of whom have recovered, 20,911 are still in hospitals and 30,485 have died.

Separately, another 2,740 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 6,027 their second shot and 32,139 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 139,150,155.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 544.31 million on Monday, 519.62 million of whom have recovered, 18.35 million are active cases (36,020 in severe condition) and 6.34 million have died (up by 563).

Thailand ranks 26th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 88 million, followed by India with 43.31 million, Brazil with 31.7 million, France with 30.08 million and Germany with 27.2 million.

Published : June 20, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016808

New Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt chose Klong Toei district as the location for his first mobile meeting on Sunday. Chadchart plans to hold mobile meetings in all 50 city districts to gather first-hand information from local officials on urgent problems.

Before chairing Sunday’s meeting, he visited Klong Toei’s Chalerm Pra Kiat Somdet Ya Public Park learning centre to take part in a tree-planting activity – part of his policy to plant one million trees around Bangkok to filter dust pollution.

During his visit Chadchart sampled locally grown organic vegetables, which he recommended as a healthy alternative to chemical-grown crops. He also tried a herbal drink made at the centre and sowed rice seeds in a demonstration paddy field.

Chadchart told reporters he decided to hold his first meeting in Klong Toei because it has the country’s biggest slum community.

The governor said over 20,000 complaints have been filed by Klong Toei slum dwellers via the Traffy Fondue Smart City platform app and 3,000 had been taken care of. He added that some problems were outside the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s jurisdiction but the BMA would coordinate with government agencies to solve them.

During the meeting, Chadchart instructed Klong Toei district officials to prioritise three policies.

First, they must reject corruption and work transparently.

Second, they must boost their efficiency and use technology such as Traffy Fondue app to solve problems quickly.

Third, they must serve the people rather than caring about the governor’s feelings.

Meanwhile, Chadchart said a BMA survey had found that about 120,000 crash helmets were needed to protect students who ride pillion on motorcycles to school.

He said that to save city budget, he would try to procure the helmets via company CSR activities to improve safety on the school run.

Published : June 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016807

Thais overwhelming support the government’s strategy to use “soft power” to promote Thailand as a tourism and culture destination, according to survey by Suan Dusit University or Suan Dusit Poll.

The online poll was conducted among 1,066 respondents nationwide between June 13 and 16 (Monday to Thursday).

Asked what they thought about the soft-power approach, 78.36 per cent of respondents said it would help economic recovery and growth. Meanwhile 77.23 per cent said the soft-power campaign would promote “Thainess” to foreigners while 54.94 per cent thought it would popularise Thai culture.

Asked which forms of soft power the government should promote, 93.79 per cent named tourism, festivals and customs, 82.58 per cent cited Thai food and Thai traditional sweets, 73.63 per cent named Thai fashions and clothes, and 71.75 highlighted Muay Thai. Promoting Thai traditional medicine – a plank of the government’s medical tourism policy – got a thumbs-up from 61.49 per cent of respondents.

Asked whether the soft-power policy will drive economic recovery, 94.56 per cent said yes and 5.44 per cent said no.

Asked to identify the main obstacles to soft-power campaigns, 86.09 per cent said too little effort by the government while 62.03 per cent said a long-term strategy was lacking.

Published : June 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016806

A gunman who stole necklaces worth 2 million baht from a Bangkok gold shop on Saturday was attempting to make up for his massive losses in cryptocurrency trading, police said on Sunday.

Police said the suspect confessed to committing the robbery out of financial stress caused by crypto losses. To protect his legal rights, his identity was not revealed.

The robbery occurred at the Buan Lee gold shop on Chakkraphet Road in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district.

A man wearing a face mask entered the shop on Saturday before pulling a handgun from his backpack and waving it at staff and customers.

The shop’s owner, Kornrawik Wangcharoenrung, along with staff and some customers ran to the back room of the shop. The robber then grabbed the gold necklaces and fled. Two of the necklaces were later found on the pavement outside the shop.

The thief made his escape on a motorcycle but police used footage from security cameras to track his journey. They arrested the suspect the following day and escorted him to the shop to re-enact the crime.

The cryptocurrency market has slumped over the past week, with investors suffering an estimated US$1.5 trillion in losses worldwide. The crashing market has coincided with a craze for crypto trading in Thailand, driven by recent regulation and tax exemptions for traders.

Published : June 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016800

Most Thais are worried that children will get addicted to cannabis now that it has been decriminalised, the results of a survey released on Sunday show.

The Public Health Ministry removed cannabis from the list of prohibited narcotics on June 9, allowing it to be used for medical purposes and as a cash crop.

However, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt issued measures on Thursday to ensure there is no access to cannabis and hemp in schools after four people were admitted to hospital for suspected cannabis overdose. One patient died of heart failure later.

The Public Health Ministry also announced that the sale of cannabis to people younger than 20, pregnant women and nursing mothers is prohibited.

The National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) conducted a poll from June 13-15 on 1,310 respondents aged 15 and above. The respondents hailed from different parts of the country and had different backgrounds.

When asked for an opinion on the legalisation of cannabis:

• 34.81% strongly agree as cannabis can generate income and cure diseases

• 24.89% strongly disagree as cannabis can have an impact on children and do not believe the government can control consumption

• 23.74% moderately agree as cannabis is more beneficial than harmful

• 16.56% moderately disagree as people will get addicted or misuse the drug

Worries over the use of cannabis among children:

• 42.44% definitely worried

• 29.62% moderately worried

• 16.95% definitely not worried

• 10.99% moderately not worried

Cannabis is best used for:

• 34.95% for medical use

• 31.15% for recreation

• 22.21% as a food or beverage additive

• 12.59% for commercial use

Experience in using cannabis:

• 34.05% not tried

• 31.15% have tried

Of the 432 respondents who tried cannabis:

• 60.65% consumed it in food or beverage

• 30.52% have smoked it

• 21.06% used cannabis for treatment

• 6.94% have cultivated cannabis

• 1.39% have processed cannabis for sale

• 0.23% have sold cannabis

Published : June 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016798

Bangkok motorists have been advised to avoid using routes around Democracy Monument and the 1st Infantry Regiment barracks on Sunday due to political protests.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) said that anti-government protesters announced they will hold a car rally from Democracy Monument in Phra Nakhon district to the nearby 1st Infantry Regiment base in Phya Thai, where Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s residence is located. The protest will demand the PM’s resignation.

Protesters plan to gather at Democracy Monument at 4pm before heading to the 1st Infantry Regiment barracks, MPB said.

MPB also advised people to prepare a plan before travelling and avoid using the protest route.

For updates, call the Metropolitan Police Traffic Control Centre’s 1197 hotline or visit Facebook @1197Callcenter.

Published : June 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016794

The Government Lottery Office (GLO) will look into increasing the number of digital lottery tickets allocated to each draw after 5.17 million tickets for the draw on July 1 were sold out on Sunday.

However, GLO said it needs to evaluate the digital lottery system thoroughly before increasing the number of tickets sold online. This digital lottery scheme has been launched to combat the problem of overpricing.

The second set of digital lotteries was sold out on Sunday morning, three days after being launched via the Paotang application.

The first set of 5.17 million tickets for the June 16 draw was sold out by June 6, five days after going on sale.

Winners can claim their prize via the following methods within 15 days of the draw:

• Get the cash transferred to the winner’s bank account within 12 hours after deducting 1 per cent of winnings in transfer fees.

• Pick up the prize at the GLO office in Nonthaburi. Winners must call GLO in advance at (02) 528 9682 and (02) 528 9732, so the office can send the original ticket back to the winners. This method costs 0.5 per cent stamp duty.

Published : June 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016793

The Tourism and Sports Ministry has devised the “Rath Tour Tua Thai” scheme, which will encourage government officials to go on “workations” in different provinces in a bid to stimulate domestic tourism.

Under the scheme, government officials can work from anywhere on two weekdays between July and December.

“They can take two days together or tag them on to long weekends,” Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Sunday, adding that working out of the office would not be considered a day off.

He expects the scheme to kick off in July once receiving the Cabinet’s approval.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn

He added that this scheme tied in with an extended fourth phase of the “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) subsidy will help stimulate tourism in the remainder of the year. The travel co-payment scheme offers 1.5 million discounted hotel rooms to Thai travellers.

Meanwhile, Phiphat said a ministerial committee has come up with guidelines to promote tourism in five provinces in the South, namely Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani, Satun and Songkhla.

The committee has also marked out Songkhla Lake as a special area for sustainable tourism, he said. This area will cover eight districts in Songkhla, five in Phatthalung and two districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Published : June 19, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016792

The easing of travel restrictions has brought as many as 1.61 million tourists to Thailand so far this year, up 3,895 per cent from 2021.

Tourist arrivals especially surged after the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s scrapped the Test & Go scheme from May 1 and from June 1 allowing unvaccinated or partly vaccinated tourists to enter the Kingdom by just providing a negative ATK or RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours of departure.

The number of arrivals has been steadily rising from 133,903 in January to 476,171 in May and 348,699 in June.

Since January 1, the highest number of tourists came from India (169,131), followed by Malaysia (137,969), the United Kingdom (107,438), Singapore (98,701) and Germany (86,480).

In June, meanwhile, the largest number of visitors came from Malaysia (61,486), followed by India (51,800), Singapore (31,580), Vietnam (18,885) and the United States (15,708).

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Friday that at least 7.5 million tourists are expected to visit Thailand this year.

However, he added, his ministry will launch additional campaigns, especially during the October to December high season, to bring the number of arrivals up to 10 million people this year. He said he expects at least 1.5 million arrivals per month during the high season or 50,000 people per day.

“CCSA’s move to scrap Thailand Pass and the mask mandate, as well as allowing nighttime entertainment venues to stay open until 2am from July 1 will draw more tourists to Thailand,” he said.

Published : June 19, 2022

By : THE NATION